During the department’s annual awards banquet in the Taggart Student Center Skyroom, JCOM faculty honored its Class of 2013 graduates, named its top seniors and juniors in each of the department’s concentration areas.

Broadcast journalism student Emily Landeen was named the department’s outstanding graduating senior in recognition of her academic record, her work as a reporter, news anchor and producer with A-TV News, and her professional internships, including one last summer with KSL-TV than turned into stringer work for the station through the year.

The other top 2013 graduates are Sarah Hatch in Agricultural Communication & Journalism; Dani Hayes in print journalism; and Kara Rindlisbacher in public relations.

“This is our annual celebration of another great school year,” Pease said. “The faculty are very proud of you, our best and brightest, for your work and accomplishments this year, and look forward to all you’ll do next year.”

Pease said he also is proud of the growth of JCOM scholarship endowments, which have generated more than $31,000 in awards to JCOM students in the 2013-2014 school year.

“Choosing scholarship winners is always hard—we have such great students,” he said. “We always wish there was more support. We’re working on it.”

The Rusty Spike Award

Pease himself also was surprised with an award in his honor, created by the members of the newly revived Northern Utah chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

“Officially, it’s the Ted Pease Award, but we’re informally calling it the Ted Pease Award for Curmudgeonly Service To Journalism,” said assistant professor Matthew LaPlante, the SPJ chapter adviser, in presenting the award. “In years to come, we hope to give the award to those who don’t really give a damn what people think about them, so long as they’re doing what’s right on behalf of journalism and journalists.”

The award—a rusty railroad spike—was created through contributions from students, faculty and alumni, and will be presented annually to journalists and others who also support service to journalism and journalism education.

Pease, who has taught at USU since 1994, steps down as the university’s longest serving department head at the end of this semester, but will continue to teach half-time.

Saying he was touched by the award, Pease noted that the spike was, “Rusty but still sharp—which is a good metaphor for me. I hope.”